Means of distributing fire-quenching foam on floating decks



May 21, 1929- c. R. GALLAGHER MEANS OF DISTRIBUTING FIRE QUENCHING FOAM0N FLCA'I'ING DECKS Filed July 23, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l gmnto'c May 21,1929- c. R. GALLAGHER MEANS OF DISTRIBUTING FIRE QUENCHING FOAM ONFLOATING DECKS Filed July 23, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 amp Patented May 21,1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES R. GALLAGHER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS-SIGNMENTS, TO CONSOLIDATED STEEL CORPORATION, LOS ANGELES, CALI- FORNIA,A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

MEANS OF DISTRIBUTING FIRE-QUENCHING FOAM ON FLOATING DECKS.

Application filed July 23, 1927. Serial No. 207,863.

This invention relates to a means for distributing fire fighting foam ona floating deck for oil tanks.

An object of the present invention is to provide a means by which firefighting or uenching foam may be distributed on the floating deck or theseal thereof from a point close to the position in which the foam 1s to.be placed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a means by whichthe rain water drain of the floating deck may be utilized to convey foamto the deck.

Various other objects and advantages of the present invention willappear from a description of a preferred means for distributing foam onfloating decks embodying the invention. For this purpose, there ishereinafter described a preferred form or example of an apparatusembodying the invention, the description referring to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 represents a plan view,

Figure 2 represents an elevation mainly in vertical section,

Figure 3 is a fragmental sectional elevation of the attachment betweenthe floating deck and the foam distributing apparatus Figure 4 is afragmental elevation 0 a modified form of apparatus,

Figure 5 represents a further modified form of apparatus, and,

Figure 6 is a plan view of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, 2 indicates a tank, such as an oil tank. 3indicates a floating deck which may be of any preferred or customaryform and is indicated as provided with legs 4 at its lower endfor'supporting the deck when it is in the bottom of the tank 2. The deckis also indicated as provided with sealing plates 5 at its peri herywhich engage' the cylindrical walls 0 the tank 2 and seal thespacebetween the floating deck and tank.

6 indicates a line which serves both as a water drain line for rainwater falling upon the floating deck 3 and as a conduit throughwhichfoam forming materials may be passed to the floating deck when desired.The line 6 extends through the tank 2 at one end and there is providedwith a valve 7 through which the rain water collected in line 6 may bedischarged from the tank. The line 6 is also connected through a valve11 with a line 8 connected to two branch lines and 10 WhlCh arerespectively provided with valves 12 and 13. These lines, in practice,lead to sources of materials adapted to. be mixed to- Such gether toform a fire fighting or quenching foam.

Within the'tank 2, the line 6 is connected by pantograph lines 15consisting of swing oints, pipe, and pipe fittings, to a line 16extending vertically through the axis of the floating eck 3. At the axisof the floating deck 3, there is indicated a trough 17, and within thetrough 17 the line 16v is provided with one or more check valves 18through which rain water is adapted to pass in entering the line 16 sothat it may be discharged from the deck. The check valve or valves 18are adapted to close against a reverse passage of liquid so that theliquid -foam forming materials may pass upwardly through the line 16 tothe foam spray nozzles 20. The foam spray nozzles 20 are mounted upon arotating head 21 and are so disposed that they are adapted to impel thefoam to the periphery of the floating deck 3 and there quench any fireexisting around theseals 5.

Now referring to Figure 4, a modified form of nozzle is shown. In thiscase, the line 16 is shown as connected with a rotating head 22 havinglines carrying nozzles 23 which are fan shaped so as to distribute thefoam not only upon or around the seals 5 of the deck but to coversubstantially the entire deck.

Referring to Figure 5, a still further modified form of nozzle isindicated as connected with the line 16. In this case, the line 16terminates in a funnel 24 which in turn supports a transverse bafile 25so that the funnel 24 and baflie 25 form a circular outlet for the foamor foam forming materials.

In use of the apparatus of the present invention, whenever it isnecessary to fight a fire upon the floating deck, the foam formingmaterials are merely pumped into the water discharge line of the deckfrom lines 9 and 10, the valve previously having been closed. foamforming materials will pass through line 6 and pantograph pipes 15,through line 16 and by the check valves 18 to the nozzles 20 or themodified form of nozzles shown in Figures 4 or 5. Here the foam formingmaterials and foam will be thrown outupon the deck and properlydistributed in the localities where it will be most effectual infighting the fire. It should be pointed out that the distance at whichthe foam is dropped or deposited upon the deck 'is independent of theposition of the floating deck 3 or amount of oil in the tank 2 since thefoam distributing apparatus and nozzles are carried with or by the deck3.

While the forms of the invention herein described are well adapted tocarry out the objects of the invention, various modifications andchanges may be made without departing from the princi les of theinvention and the invention inclu es all such modifications and changesas come within the scope of the followingappended claim.

' I claim:

In an apparatus of the class described, the

combination with a tank and floating deck therefor, of a line connectedwith the deck and leading to the exterior of said tank, means at one endof said line for introducing foam forming materials, and means at theother end of the line and above the deck for discharging said foamforming materials upon ,the deck, lateral intakes communicating with dayof July, 1927.

CHARLES R. GALLAGHER.

